​Debra Moffitt is an author who leads workshops and retreats on writing, creativity, and spirituality, in the United States and worldwide. She teaches at the Sophia Institute in Charleston, SC and the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. Her writings have appeared in publications around the world. She is the author of the award-winning books, Awake in the World, Garden of Bliss, and Riviera Stories. Her blogs have appeared on Beliefnet.com and Intentblog.com​. Debra worked in international business until she felt a deeper calling to write. She speaks and writes in French and Italian as well as English. Her writing is deeply influenced by her travels.

What do I do best?

I’m a good writer. That’s what I was put here for in this lifetime. I observe human nature and my observations about how people interact in relationships and in daily life become fodder for my books. I’m also a really good intuitive – so be careful what you think or how you feel around me, because I’m likely to know it. People are fascinated by the intuitive readings they have with me and what comes up! Intuition also plays a role in the lives of the characters in my books.

What makes me the best version of myself?

My sense of humor always helps me to keep things in perspective. Regardless of how bad a situation gets, something funny can usually be found in it. I love to laugh and to make others laugh too. It’s healthy and a great tension reliever.

What are my aspirations?

I’m shifting genres in my writing and I have three novels looking for the right publisher. The books are tuned into human nature, psychic phenomenon, and one is a romantic comedy. So my aspirations are to attract the right home for my novels so they can find their readers. I’ve seen the readers already with my inner vision. Now the publishers will come. I also aim to continue to run a successful business which helps writers achieve their writing dreams and runs international retreats and workshops that help writers and creatives tap into intuition and deep inspiration for their writing.

My Biggest Success?

My biggest success is being alive. Right now. And continuing to do my inner work day after day. It’s not always easy. When one commits to being awake and aware of life, there’s no longer any option to fall into zombie mode. You can’t blame anyone else for the life you lead or the mistakes you make. You can’t play the victim any more. You become a full participant in the outcome – and if you’re tuned in you get the guidance necessary to protect you and bring you the information needed about each situation. Trust life. There’s something bigger at play – and by tuning into it and working in harmony with it, things work out. Even things that seemed painful become blessings in disguise.

My Most Challenging Moment?

A few years ago when my marriage wasn’t working, I had to make the decision to be who my husband wanted me to be, or to be myself. I like equality. No power games. So people who relate in terms of taking power over others and trying to control me, do not fit into my way of life. His idea was you either submit or you take control in a relationship. I believe in respecting a partner as an equal without needing to control him. I know that power comes from an inner source. We all have it. Giving over my power and submitting to someone else takes away my responsibility for my life and does not benefit me or anyone else in the least. In that difficult moment I chose to be myself and leave the marriage even though I loved my husband. It was a difficult decision, but it was the right one for me.

My Motto?

Two mottos inspire me right now: “Love all, serve all” – a motto found in India and also on Hard Rock Café t-shirts. Love to me is an energy, not so much a romantic sentiment as so many people like to think. And “Trust Life. Things always work out in the end.”

My Favorite People/Role Models?

So many people have made positive impacts and influenced me. Friend and founder of the Hard Rock Café, Isaac Tiggret, is an amazing human being, a great business man, and an incredible mystic. He perpetuated human values in the workplace and worked with love. Sathya Sai Baba, was a great spiritual teacher and the cornerstone of amazing service projects like the Super Speciality Hospitals in India where all health care is free. I’m also blessed to connect with guests each week on my Unity FM radio show, Divinely Inspired Living, and many of my guests and their books have had profound impacts on me, including Gregg Braden, Dr. Joe Dispenza, Sonia Choquette, Eben Alexander, Barbara de Angelis, Dr. Jacob Liberman, and so many more.

My Favorite Places/Destinations?

Places deeply influence my writing. I wrote “Riviera Stories: Just Below the Surface”, a collection of short stories set on the French Riviera because I loved the sea, the incredible skies, scuba diving, and the international atmosphere. Beachside on Isle of Palms and Sullivans Island, South Carolina are special healing places to me. When I lived on IOP, I would walk to the beach and watch the dolphins almost every day. The Islands of Lerins off of the coast of Cannes in France are amazing places with good energy and a monastery with chanting monks and good wine. And Sonogno in Val Verzasca ,Ticino in Switzerland is where I wrote and completed two of my award-winning books, “Awake in the World: 108 Practices to Live a Divinely Inspired Life” and “Garden of Bliss”.

My Favorite Products/Objects?

If you want to give me gifts, pens and paper are the best! I love a good pen (not necessarily expensive) and fine paper and notebooks. Notebooks have to be without lines!